I wish you all a happy and glorious Easter in the joy of the Risen One. This setting of O Filii et Filiae is taken from the monumental oratorio of Franz Liszt, Christus. Like the peace and reverence of the Mass of Christmas, we enter the mystery of the empty tomb still in the darkness of the night, and the euphoria has not yet hit us. We approach with faith and quietness, still stunned and finding things difficult to believe as we lived through the bitter moments of the Passion in our prayer. This is the mystery of the Resurrection.

Tomorrow morning, as is the Sarum custom, I will be taking the Blessed Sacrament (third host consecrated on Maundy Thursday) from the Easter Sepulchre to put it in its exalted place above the altar of the chapel – in the hanging pyx. The cross of Good Friday will also be taken from its burial place.

This is indeed a moving moment of the Church’s year. It took the whole length of Septuagesimatide, Lent and Passiontide to get to this moment. Let us treasure it.

Disclaimer

This is my personal blog, on which I write independently from the ecclesiastical establishment (Anglican Catholic Church - Original Province) to which I am affiliated through the Diocese of the United Kingdom. Whilst I endeavour in every way to be faithful to my canonical promises to uphold the doctrines and discipline of my Church, I engage only myself.